You all must have heard about the umpteen benefits of coconut oil for hair, skin, weight loss, and heart health. But have you heard about FCO (fractioned coconut oil)? Well, it is nothing but coconut oil that is used for personal care, such as massaging oil, moisturizer, and hair oil. Fractionated coconut oil is prepared from standard coconut oil through the process of fractionation.
Fractionation Process
Fractionation is a process that is used to different types of fats that are usually found in some oils. Fractionation is possible because of the various melting points of different fats. To make fractionated coconut oil, coconut oil is heated above its melting point and is then left to cool. The liquid fraction of the oil is then separated from the solid fraction. The fractionation process can take several hours to complete.
Fco vs. Regular Coconut Oil: What’s the Difference?
Fractionated coconut oil is tasteless and odorless. It is also more pricey than normal coconut oil. Apart from hair care and skincare, fractionated coconut oil can also be used as a nutritional supplement. Fractionated coconut oil is also sold as LCO (liquid coconut oil), which is marketed as edible coconut oil.
Both fractionated and regular coconut oil is a good source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
The composition of fatty acids is different in coconut oil(1) and fractionated coconut oil. 12-carbon lauric acid (C12) is the primary fatty acid present in coconut oil. The bulk of this fatty acid (or even all of it) is extracted from FCO. Fractionated coconut oil does not contain LCFAs (long-chain fatty acids) found in normal coconut oil.
Capric acid (C10) and caprylic acid (C8) are the two primary MCFAs (medium-chain fatty acids) found in FCO. These MCFAs are transported directly to the liver from the digestive tract where they can be used as a quick source of energy.
[Read: Benefits of Coconut Oil]
Fractionated Coconut Oil Benefits
- Weight loss: MCFAs in fractionated coconut oil can help you with weight loss. These fatty acids can reduce calorie intake and hunger. They can make you burn more calories and fat and are also less likely to be stored as fat.
- Improves brain function: Studies have found that medium-chain fatty acids in fractionated coconut oil can help in improving brain function and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
- Diabetes prevention: These medium-chain fatty acids also can reduce insulin resistance and lessen the risk factors associated with diabetes.
However, the lauric acid found in coconut oil gives it an advantage over FCO. More than half of coconut oil contains lauric acid, which can offer protection to the body from harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
And while fractionated coconut oil may provide weight loss and other health benefits, it is more processed and expensive than normal coconut oil. Having fractionated coconut oil is safe for most people, but may trigger digestive issues (like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting) in some people.
[Read: Coconut Oil for Weight Loss]
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
- Coconut oil is easily one of the safest and healthiest cooking oils known. It is suitable for brain health, weight loss, heart health, and many more. Here are a few coconut oil benefits that you cannot miss out:
- Using coconut oil as cooking oil can expedite the burning of fat, thanks to the presence of MCFAs in it (coconut oil when consumed in limited quantities). What’s more, coconut oil intake can also assist in burning the hardened belly fat!
- Cooking food with coconut oil can also reduce hunger, thus reducing your overall calorie intake. This, in turn, results in weight loss in the long run.
- Coconut oil can enhance HDL (good cholesterol), thanks to the presence of natural saturated fats in it. This benefit of coconut oil can be useful for your heart health.
- It is pertinent to note that these coconut oil benefits can be reaped only when you consume it in limited portions. Over consumption of coconut oil is likely to negate its benefits and cause unnecessary weight gain and cholesterol problems instead.
Conclusion
Whether you use it for your hair, skin as a carrier oil in a massage oil solution, or a whole range of other uses, there are multiple ways to incorporate FCO into your daily regimen. Whatever you utilize it for, though, it’s bound to become a success–and you can trust in that. And if you’re not confident where to start you can start making your own homemade bath bomb to reap the powerful benefits of FCO for both mind and body.
